Larry Bird Remembers The Good Ol' Days

by Jeff Clark on Feb 8, 2012 4:00 AM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

Larry Bird is one of those guys that you just stop and listen to. He's old school in all the good ways. Bill Simmons had him on his podcast and he shared a couple of things of note.

Simmons and Bird talk NBA

On whether it would be prudent to break up the current Big 3 or even the original Big 3 of Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish -- as current Celtics president Danny Ainge has suggested: "I would have kept them [referring to himself, McHale and Parish]. The one thing about Red was loyalty. And that's why I never wanted to leave there, because I always knew he had my back, he cared for me, he wanted me to do well. Obviously, he wanted me to play at a high level.... Danny [Ainge] did tell Red he should trade us right now because we don't have much left in the tank... I was there with Danny and Red and McHale the day we were talking about that. The one thing that Danny threw in there was players' names. The whole time I was in Boston I never heard Red mention any other players on other teams. I heard him talking about draft picks, but I never heard anything about, ‘Larry, I can trade you for this, this and this.' He just never did that... Kevin McHales don't come around very often. ... you know, in 1987 Kevin played through a broken foot -- it was actually broken and he tried to play and he's still paying for it. So, you don't find those types of guys anymore. Very few of them out there probably. Kevin gave his heart and soul to the Celtics and Red knew that."

On how he would have retired in 1988 if the Celtics' top pick in the 1986 NBA draft, Len Bias, hadn't died from a drug overdose: "I would have left in '88. ... Because I started having the ankle problems ... if he was there, I would have just shut it down right then [at age 32].

I believe it. He wasn't the same after the injuries but you can tell that he believes that loyalty goes both ways. Old school.

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Basketball wise I understand Ainge's I'll make any trade that helps the team even slightly mentality

And yet I prefer GMs showing loyalty to their players like Red did. Of course now more than ever the NBA is a business with GM’s sometimes making quick, unpredictable moves. In return players are a lot less loyal to teams/cities so it evens out.

by kg2128 on Feb 8, 2012 6:59 AM EST reply actions

Bird's Remarks

Danny didn’t say this to Red behind the Big Three’s backs. He said it right in front of them.
We really don’t know the context of the remarks. Maybe Danny was serious, maybe he was kidding or maybe he was just tossing around ideas. Bird talks about the importance of loyalty and I’m all for that. But Red did trade one of his most loyal employees. He traded Danny when the team was in need of a backup Center for Parrish.

One thing this tidbit shows is that Danny is very up front. I think players appreciate that also. It also shows Danny’s toughness. Bird and McHale could easily have beat the @%^& out of him. Anyway, love them all.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Feb 8, 2012 9:00 AM EST reply actions

I always enjoy...

hearing any of the remaining fab 5 of Bird, Mchale, Parish and Ainge share stories or behind the scenes info pertaining to those great 80 Celtic teams.

Though I have read Bird wanted to retire maybe in 1990 rather then 1992 , unless I missed it its news to me that he was contemplating retiring as early as 1988 if Bias had not passed away.

Very interesting comments indeed.

by fordescort on Feb 8, 2012 12:14 PM EST reply actions

+1

I agree. Love hearing about those stories. I watched the Bird Magic Special on NBATV about a dozen times during the lockout just to hear Bird talk the Celtics in the 80s and how things played out. They need a roundtable special with the remaining fab 5 to talk about that run before its too late.

by yakyakyak on Feb 8, 2012 7:10 PM EST up reply actions

Agree 100%

with your comment:

“They need a roundtable special with the remaining fab 5 to talk about that run before its too late”

Gee thats a great idea and would so awesome for all Celtic fans, but especially the ones who grew up during that NBA generation.

If some network local or national could arrange a TV special having all the remaining fab 5 talk about there good old days that would be must watch TV indeed.

by fordescort on Feb 8, 2012 9:47 PM EST up reply actions